Statement by Dr. Gro Harlem Brundtland, Director General, World Health Organization and Chair of the GAVI Board
"As Chair of the GAVI Board, I am thrilled to see the investment of time and resources of all our partners coming to fruition. GAVI was a dream to many of us. It was an ideal. Now, it is happening. This week in Mozambique, children will be getting immunized by the first shipment of vaccines supported by the Vaccine Fund for Children's Vaccines and put into action by the partners in the alliance."
Since the funding guidelines were finalized and sent out in May of last year, 47 countries have submitted proposals. So far, 25 have been approved, representing a $375 million commitment by GAVI over the next five years. If these countries reach their targets, by 2005, an additional five million children will be reached with routine immunizations and nearly 45 million more children will be protected against hepatitis B.
GAVI has become a pathfinder, paving the way for other innovative public private partnerships that increase access to important health commodities and services. GAVI also seeks to address inequities in health access, prioritizing access to vaccines for the poorest countries. With this launch, I am confident that we are on our way to attaining our goals."
For further information contact:
Jon Liden: Tel: +41 22 791 3982 or 791 2741
Gregory Hartl: Tel: +41 22 791 4458
Dr. Francisco Songane, Minister of Health, Mozambique
“This is an important programme particularly for it’s aims to diminish morbidity and mortality cased by hepatitis B and it’s consequences, namely liver cancer. This is a way public private partnership can contribute to the improvement of the health of the population. The prevention of hepatitis B in the country will ultimately contribute to our socio-economic development.”
For further information contact:
Dr. Martinho Dgedge,
Ministry of Health
Tel: +258 1 421 738 or mobile +258 82 326 065
Jean-Jacques Bertrand, the OECD Industry representative to the GAVI Board and Chairman and CEO, Aventis Pasteur
"This first shipment of vaccines to Mozambique demonstrates that the global vaccine industry which develops and manufactures vaccines is responsive to the healthcare needs not only of the developed but also of the developing world. The delivery of vaccines today also demonstrates to the private and the public sectors the synergies that we can achieve when we work together in public-private partnerships such as the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunizations (GAVI)."
For further information contact:
Sophie Sebirot-Nossoff
Tel: 33-4-3737-7273 (FRANCE)
E-mail:
sophie.sebirotnossoff@aventis.com
Return to 6 April 2001 Press Release: Africa Receives First Delivery of GAVI/Global Fund Vaccines
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